Improvement in fire-escapes



FIRE-ESCAPE.

No.188,312, Patented March `13, 1877.

ATTORN EYS N. PETERS, PHO

JOSEPH H. SPENCER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,312, dated March-13,1877; application tiled February 6, 1877. f t

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, J osEPH lH. SPENCER, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State'of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Extension FireLad ders, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersf skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to extension firelad ders; and consists in the parts 'and combinations, as hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the drawing, Figure l represents a perspective view of my ladder when in its operative condition. Fig. 2 shows a detached view, representing the manner in which the .lower section of the ladder is secured to the truck. Fig. 3 shows a view of a wheel-carrying rollertruck.

The ladder proper embraces a lower and an upper section, pivoted or hinged together at G in a strong, substantial manner. The lower section is so attached to the trucknear the front axle, as shown in Fig. 2, as to allow the ladder to swing laterally as well as upward and downward. l The purpose served by piv-y oting the ladder at W', whereby the ladder may swing laterally, is to secure a proper adjustment of the ladder in cases where the truck stands on an uneven surface. This lateral swing of the ladder is regulated by the steering apparatus, and when the ladder has been brought to the desired position laterally, it can hesecuredto retain that position by' means of the locking-pin s, inserted between the cogs of the pinion r.

When the truck is not in motion or the ladder is being elevated, the axle-locking pin w. is inserted, which transfers the action of the steering apparatus from the axle to the extensionsupport E, and thus motion is coinmunicated to the ladder. When the truck is in motion andthe ladder in its folded position, the p in s is withdrawn, which permits the steering device to act on the axle to steer the truck.

The steering apparatus, as shown in the drawing, embraces a vtiller, n, corrugated sheaves o ol o, (one of which is placed on locking device s. rod may be the only corrugated one einployed, the others being smooth. The ends ffof the chain or cord p are secured to the axle, as shown, the cord passing around the central sheave and over the others. The truck is steered or the ladder moved according to the direction inwhich the cord is wound on the central sheave by the turning of the tiller.

Any other steering device to accomplish the purpose may, however, be substituted in lieu of the one described.

The upper and lower sections of the ladder are re-enforced by rods and braces on the upper and lower as well as outer side, thus giving the sides a truss form, and thus greatly strengthening the ladder.

The strengthening-braces on the under side consist of the wire-ropes or rods B' B, which are secured at one end to the side rails and at the other to the rods B B. An additional brace and rod may be provided, as shown B B, if desired. The brace on the upper side consists of a wire-rope fastened at its ends to the Lipper and'lower part of the ladder, which passes, at about the place where the two sections of the ladder are hinged together, un-

der and in the groove of a sheave of the pulley c,'which issecured to the rod Cl-' Said wire-rope brace is passed through said pulley in order to permit the'ladder-sections to be folded together. Said rod C" may be of one piece with rod B", or said rods may be of separate pieces. In either case they 'are strengthened by the rods d d.

The ladder is also further provided with side braces, by which it is still further strengthened. The side braces are also preferably constructed of wire, and are fastened, like the other braces, to the ends of the ladder. They also pass through pulleys El, fixed to proper supports to the upper part and side of the lower section, for the like purpose of permitting the ladder to be folded. Attached tol the under brace-rods B B is a locking device, which consists of a pin, stud, or projection, l, and an aperture or socket, k, the former combined with the upper section, and the latter formed in a plate or inclined projection 0f the lower section. When the ladder is unfolded andstraightened, the pin or projection l rides up on the incline of the said plate, and drops into the aperture or socket k. The said plate, being elastic, returns to its first position when the piu has dropped into the socket, and in this manner the two sections of the ladder are iirmly locked to each other, end to end. Any other suitable lockingl device-may, however, be substituted t'ortheone described.

To support and brace the ladder when in its elevated position` I provide `the telescopic eX- tension-support E, which is secured and pivoted to the rear axle, and may be so arranged as to pass through or under the same. Said extension-support is braced or strengthened by the rods- M, which are secured to support E, and the cross-piece l, which latter is placed on the upper side of the bolster of said rear axle. This extensionsupport is so constructed that its extension part E2 slides in grooves formedin the sides ofthe main part. Thef upper part of said part E2 is secured to car-l rages V, which move on rails T, secured to the under side of the side rails of the lower section of the ladder proper. The extensionsupport is pivoted to the carriagesl at o, as shown." The upper or sliding part E2 of the telescopic extension-support is elevated by means of ropes or chains, which are attached to the lower part or round otl E, and pass over sheaves or pulleysm, secured to the upper part of the stationary section7 and then pass around a grooved wheel or corrugated sheave, O, which isturned'by the crank p, so that as the rope or chain is wound on said wheel the sliding upper part E is elevated. Said grooved wheel 0 has, in connection therewith, the ratchet-Wheel u, pawl fu, and spring Iw, to prevent any return movement of the wheel when not desired. To raise the support E to its operative position is accomplished by means ofropes or-chains, which` are attached to the two carriages V, and pass over pulleys I', andaround corrugated sheaves S. A preferable manner of construction is to secure both ends of this rope or chain to the carriage, and pass it around the pulleys I' and S; the latter only, or both of which, may be corrugated. 1n this case an endless` chain is formed, and by turning the crank in the proper direction the support E is raised or lowered.

G is an escape or extension section, which can be raised upward to lengthen the ladder,

`or lowered into a window, thus furnishing an Vthe purpose ot' securing a more nearly perpendicular position otl the ladder, when that is.` desirable. The construction may be like that shown, where the rear. frame slides in grooves of the forward frame; or the rods `of the rear part may 4he made to` slide in tubes ot' the front part. The ends of the truck may he made to approach each other by means of a`chain or rope, the ends 0f which are attached to the rear frame at opposite points, and `which rope or chain passes once around a grooved wheel or sheave placed at a proper point intermediate the places of lattachment of the cord, so that the revolution ofthe said grooved wheel, secured to the forward frame, will shorten or lengthen the truck, according to the direction in which the wheel is turned.

The extension-supportE has attached to it on its sides the lateral braces L, whose ends e' rest on the ground on either side ofthe truck, and serve tosteady the ladder. Instead of attaching said braces permanently to support E, they may be provided with hooks on their upper ends to iit into eyes attached to support E g When not in use they rest inside of pins L' on the cross-har of the rear truck. When in use they rest in guides or rests R R', attached to the side of the truck-frame, their outer ends in contact, or nearlyso, with the ground.

The escape-section G is provided with a hook,f, attached to its lower round, which hook, when made to grasp any round of the` upper section of the ladder propel", serves to retain the escape-section G in any desired position. To the side rail ot' the upper section is also attached a spring or catch, h,"which holds the escape-section to the ladder proper when the former is not in use. Said escapesection is also provided with hooks z z, into which a cord or rope is slipped when the ladder is to he elevated, which rope passes through the eye g, and is secured to one of the rounds ofthe upper `section of the ladder proper. At the upper part and under side ot' the lower section is provided a stop, w, which prevents the carriage from ruiming off the track. Z are rests, upon which the side rails of the upper section of the ladder rest when the device is not in operation.

J is an extra ladderrest, provided with two cross-pieces, which,in connection with two cross-pieces, K' K", fixed to the lower section,

-serve to carry two extra ladders, to be used in the ordinary manner. These are `brought into requisition when it is not necessary to use the extension-ladder, and may of course be usedat the same time. This is an advantage not provided for in any'of the present locked together.

extension-ladders. These cross-pieces J J rest on a spring, J, so as to provide the requisite elasticity. The side rails of the lower section rest on the cross-heads N', which are grooved to admit the same, and are attached to the upper 'part of rods to which the crosspieces J J are lixed.

When the device is in operation and stands, for instance, on a sidewalk, and it is desired to move the same in a lateral direction, it is accomplished by means of the vsmall trucks represented in Fig. 3. These trucks consist of a frame carrying two rollers, as shown, and an open space between the same, approached by two inclined planes or shoes or one only may be used, if desired, though I prefer 'to use two. rIhe wheels of the rear truck are run up on the incline and settle in the opening between the rollers. The device can then be moved laterally by means of these rollers. These inclined shoes are hinged to the frame ofthe small truck on either side, so that they turn up when the wheel is in position on the same.

The mode of operating is .as follows: The escape-section G is raised, by means of a cord attached to the upper round of vthe same, to

. a perpendicular or nearly perpendicular position, and then a rope or cord, which passes from a lower round of the upper section through the eye g, is hooked to the hook z, the other end of said cord being attached to the lower round of the escape-section. As power is applied to the rope which raised the escape-section to a perpendicular position, it brings the escape-section farther to the rear, and carries with it the upper section of the ladder proper by reason of the cord-connection. When the outer end of the escape-section abuts on the ground, power is applied to the upper end ofthe upper section, and as the escapesection in that position acts as a fulcrum, it causes the lower section to rise sufficiently to cause the pin l to drop into the socket k, whereby the upper and lower sections are Then the crank of the corrugated sheaves S S is brought into action, and as the carriages V are drawn up on the rails by the chains, the support E is elevated and forces'up the ladder. When it is desired that the ladder shall assume a more nearly perpendicular position, the telescopic extensionsupport E is extended by means of the devices hereinbefore described. If lthe incline of the ladder is still greater than required, a more near approach to the perpendicular can be secured by causing the forward truck-frame to slide over the rear one, as hereinbefore fully set forth, thus diminishing the distance be-4 IWhen' the ladder is elevated it is evident that the support E, by passing through the axle of the rear truck, is in the most favorable position as ,regards strength and absence of strain on the weakest parts. Ifv the support E were secured below the axle it would tend to turn the same, and thus a strain would take place at the upper connection of the' said support with the carriage V, which is the weakest part.- If the support E were secured above the axle it would assume a more nearly horizontal position, and require very much `greater power to raise the same in the iirst instance, and a strain on the weak parts, as in the former case, would not be avoided. By securing the support below the axle the lirst of these evils is avoided, but not tbe last. The lower part of the support E is placed at an angle with the part above the sheave O, so that said lower part will ocp cupy a horizontal position when the device is not in operation, inorder that the steering of the apparatus shall not be interfered with.

The wire-rope braces C M at the places of the pulleys El clhave a section of chain, for the reason that wire rope, in bending around sheaves continually, would soon break, where- .as by inserting a short section ofchain at these points this liability is avoided.

The upper section has attached to its lower end asleeve or equivalent device, into which the upper end of the lower section lits, and in this way the strength of the ladder to resist lateral strain is increased.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an extension-ladder, a rear support, the lower end of which passes through the axle of the truck, and is pivoted thereto to admit of lateral swing of said support, substantially as described.

2. In an extension-ladder, a'rear extensionsupport which can be lengthened or shortened,the lower end of which is secured to andl passes through the axle of the truck, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. An extension fire-ladder, the sections o'f which are adapted to be folded -on a fourwh'eel truck, the ladder pivoted tothe truck in a manner to have lateral as well as vertical adjustment, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combinationl with the lower section of a fire extension-ladder, a rear support connected to a carriage which slides on rails secured to thc side pieces of the ladder, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In combination with the side rails of an extension ladder, braces B (one for each rail) and brace-rods B on the under side of the side rails, and braces M and brace-rods G" (rods U secured to the lower section only) on the front or upper side thereof, 4substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

6. An extension lire-ladder, consisting of hinged sections provided with braces on the outer side of the side rails, the central post oi"l said braces being secured to the lower section of the ladder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. `An extension {ire-ladder consisting of hinged sections which are provided with braces on the upper. and outer sides ofthe side rails, said braces secured to posts attached to the lower section of the ladder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

y `8. An extension fire-ladder composed of hinged sections,and provided with braces on the three outer sides of the side rails, the lower braces being secured to independent posts, while the upper and side braces are secured to posts attached to the lower section, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. An escape or extension section, Gr, arranged on the under side of the ladder proper, so that it can be extended upward or swung into a window, substantially as described.

10. rEhe combinationof tiller n, sheaves o o; "o, and chain or cord p fwith the rear axle, by which the ladder` is swung laterallyfsub- `stantially as and for the purpose described.

11. The combination ofrear support, carriage V, pulleys I', rails 1T, corrugated sheaves S, and chains or cords by means of which the ladder is elevated, substantially as described. 12. A hinged extension fire-ladder, provided with pin l and socket `or `aperture k, by means of which the sections of the ladder are secured to each other in `atirm position when t open, substantially asdescribed. t

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 

